Max Verstappen was greeted with a hero’s welcome when he returned to Red Bull HQ after winning the historic Formula One title, with the team lighting orange flares.
This season, MAX VERSTAPPEN claims he and Lewis Hamilton HATED each other at times.
The two had a titanic and contentious battle for the F1 championship, with the Dutchman emerging victorious despite a Mercedes appeal.
Before their explosive finale in Abu Dhabi last Sunday, they famously came to blows at Silverstone, Monza, and in Saudi Arabia.
Verstappen, 24, says his battle with Hamilton has been intense, and that the Mercedes driver is the most difficult racer he’s ever faced.
“You look each other in the eye in that little moment we had after the race,” he said.
You don’t say much, but you do relate to a lot of people throughout the season, and you seem to enjoy the fight.
“We used to hate each other, but that’s fine; we both have a competitive spirit.”
“He’s a fantastic driver, and we’ve been pushing him hard in most of the races this year.”
“It was also very stressful for the team; every weekend, they had to be perfect because we knew if they made a mistake, either of us would be ahead.”
“That made it all the more intense, and you’ll be able to look back on it in a few months and appreciate these moments even more.”
“I respect Lewis’s talent without a doubt; he’s a tough competitor, perhaps the toughest I’ve ever faced.”
Verstappen also admits that his victory in Abu Dhabi was “lucky” after FIA stewards interfered on the race’s final lap, much to the chagrin of Merc.
However, the reality is that Verstappen only raced to the green flag and beat what was in front of him, and this should in no way taint the outcome of the entire championship, in which he excelled.
“We have won it on track,” Verstappen said at the team’s HQ in Milton Keynes on Wednesday, where he was given a hero’s welcome.
“It was a fortunate win, according to some.”
Yes, the victory was fortunate, but we’ve also had a string of bad luck throughout the season; otherwise, the championship would have been decided much sooner, even with Mercedes’ late-season dominance.
“A little bit of luck in your life is sometimes nice as well.”
I’m not worried about Mercedes’ appeals chances.
“It was an incredible experience for the entire team, and I believe we deserved it.”
Lewis was in excruciating pain, and the way he lost it hurt me as well.”
Red Bull boss Christian Horner admits that they won’t be able to fully celebrate Verstappen’s victory until Mercedes withdraws…
The most recent news from Infosurhoy.